2 Fla. mothers get prison for staging car wrecks

MIAMI, Fla. -- Two South Florida mothers have been sentenced to prison for their roles in staging car accidents to commit fraud on insurers.

Federal prosecutors said Monday that 42-year-old Ana Ovando of West Palm Beach was sentenced to more than six years in prison after a jury convicted her of mail fraud. Court records show Ovando used her five children as part of the staged car wrecks.

Earlier this month, 39-year-old Janice Velez of West Palm Beach was sentenced to two years in prison as part of the same scheme.

Evidence showed the women submitted false insurance claims for chiropractic and massage therapy they did not need or receive. T

he case is part of a broader fake-accident investigation in which 26 people have been charged to date.